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D/J28741
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Arthur James Burch
Royal Navy
HMS Exeter
Service
On the entry of the Japan into the war in December 1941, HMS Exeter formed part of the ABDACOM naval force which was intended to defend the Dutch East Indies from Japanese invasion.
On 27th February, 1942, HMS Exeter was badly damaged in the Battle of the Java Sea when she received a hit in the boiler room and was ordered to Surabaya. The destroyer HMS Electra was sunk covering her withdrawal. On 1st March while Exeter was attempting to reach the Sunda Straits, she was again engaged by the Japanese cruisers Nachi and Haguro. HMS Exeter was soon badly damaged by gunfire and a torpedo from the destroyer Inazuma. Taking on water she began to list to starboard, by noon on the same day she sank. Her escorting destroyers, HMS Encounter and USS Pope were also lost in this engagement. About 800 Allied seamen, including the commander of HMS Exeter, Captain O.L. Gordon., became prisoners of war.
Japanese PoW
1942/03/01 - Captured
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
Died
1945/05/24
Java
Cause of death Bascillary Dysentery and Pellagra
Memorial
29. A. 1.
Ambon War Cemetery
Information
Roll of Honour - HMS Exeter
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Book - ‘No Surrender’ by W.E Johns and R.A Kelly
KEW:- WO 361/1325, WO 361/1325, WO 361/1325, WO 345/8, WO 392/23
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